For immediate release: October 19, 2017

CONTACT:
Mark Stayton Patrick Pierce
mstayton@edc-seaking.org PatrickP@EconomicAllianceSC.org
(206) 389-8653 / Cell: (206) 739-9595 (425) 248-4211

Snohomish & King counties submit joint proposal for Amazon HQ2
World-class workforce, unbeatable lifestyle and 10 quality sites among reasons for Amazon to stay local

The Economic Development Council of Seattle & King County (EDC) and the Economic Alliance
Snohomish County (EASC) have submitted a joint proposal for Amazons HQ2. The proposal puts forward
five sites for consideration from each county, including a submission from the Tulalip Tribes.

The highly-skilled workforce, stellar regional educational system and unbeatable quality of life in the
Puget Sound make this area the perfect choice for Amazons HQ2.

Within the joint submission, the Washington State Department of Commerce included five existing tax
credits and grants that could be applied to Amazon, along with a letter of support from Gov. Jay Inslee
and U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell of Washington.

We believe our region can support Amazon and the technology industrys growth far into the future
because of our collaborative business climate, highly-educated workforce, a competitive tax structure
and utility rates, and an unparalleled quality of life that helps attract top-tier talent, said Snohomish
County Executive Dave Somers.

The Puget Sound region, including King and Snohomish counties, is a global capital for innovation,
technology and entrepreneurship. Amazons HQ1 proves that this region is home to big ideas. The
regions continued technology boomincluding e-commerce, the Cloud, artificial intelligence,
augmented and virtual reality, advanced manufacturing and commercial aerospacecontinues to
attract sought-after workers from across the globe.

The Seattle region has the kind of talent and resources Amazon needs to keep growing. We are thrilled
with the company's ambitious plans here, and want to pave the way for many more years of growth
across our metro region, said King County Executive Dow Constantine. Our HQ2 proposal underscores
all our advantages: natural beauty, world-class universities, world-renowned businesses, and an
expanding regional transit network to knit it all together.

A key consideration for any growing technology company is access to both a large pool of talented
workers and a well-functioning educational pipeline to produce more. The regions 2.1 million-strong
workforce is both highly skilled and well educated; 37 percent are employed in advanced industries and
71 percent have at least some post-secondary education. The Puget Sound also has the second-highest
concentration of computer science and mathematics jobs in the U.S. at 76 per 1,000, according to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The regions higher education system is well positioned to support Amazons growth, anchored by two
outstanding research universities; the University of Washington and Washington State University. These
public universities will credential nearly 25,000 graduates in 2019, including 8,000 with STEM degrees
from more than 250 programs. Washingtons education system is also supported by a community
college system ranked third in the nation.

Site submissions came from: Arlington & Marysville; Auburn; Bellevue; Bothell; Everett; Kenmore;
Lynnwood; Renton; Tukwila; and the Tulalip Tribes. Together these sites represent a wide range of
development optionsfrom customizable urban center to suburban campus to greenfield opportunities
to design HQ2 from the ground-up.

We are delighted to present these sites to Amazon as exceptional options to expand to within the
region. These communities provide Amazon and its employees with a wealth of choices for affordable
housing, a colorful array of local cultures, fantastic schools and access to some of the worlds best
attractions and recreation, said Crystal Donner, chair of the EASC Board of Trustees.

The Puget Sound region also prioritizes a sustainable environment with a growing public transportation
infrastructure. The sites feature numerous public transportation options for commuting employees, and
many are either currently served by Sound Transit or are slated for service as part of the Sound Transit 3
expansion plan. The region boasts a robust port network that includes the Northwest Seaport Alliance,
the Port of Everett, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and Paine Field, which will launch commercial
air travel in 2018.

The proposal is the product of collaboration and partnership between King County, Snohomish County,
the Tulalip Tribes, the submitting sites, the City of Seattle, the Washington State Department of
Commerce, the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the Port of Everett, The Workforce Development Council of
Seattle-King County, public officials, and a wide variety of stakeholders including universities, colleges
and non-profits. The EDC and EASC coordinated site submissions from their respective counties and
worked with Challenge Seattle to present the final document.

Were excited to submit this proposal to Amazon. This has been an excellent opportunity for King
County, Snohomish County, and a wide variety of stakeholders to work more closely and collaboratively
on a vitally important project for our region, said Will Einstein, chair of the EDC board of directors.
Responding to requests like these will help us create the economic future we desire for this region.

About the Economic Development Council of Seattle & King County

The EDC is a public/private partnership that has worked since 1971 to expand and diversify the economy
throughout King County by retaining and recruiting jobs, growing strong and sustainable industry
sectors, and promoting global competitiveness for Washington State.

About the Economic Alliance of Snohomish County

Economic Alliance Snohomish County is a private-public partnership serving as the combined economic
development organization and countywide chamber of commerce. The Alliance exists to be a catalyst
for economic vitality resulting in stronger communities, increased job creation, expanded educational
opportunities, and improved infrastructure.